"I've always loved a good bit of vintage glamour. However, it's a passion not easily indulged in a house with two children under five, a disabled cat and a mildly psychotic boxer dog with a personal vendetta against soft furnishings..."

"Initially I trained as a barrister but the distinct lack of creative glamour within the legal world proved to be something of a deal-breaker. The wigs, though beautifully made, did not have quite the same appeal as a six foot ostrich feather fan and, let's face it, it is a rare court room submission that requires a top hat and pointe shoes. No. The law and I were doomed from the start.

Besides, I'd had a bit of a headstart in the burlesque stakes. And it was all down to this lady...



Her name was Fay Hollingsworth, stage name Fay Russell.


Fay was a dancer, and spent the late 1930's and early '40's travelling with ENSA, the entertainment corps. But more than that. She was resident at the Windmill Theatre. And she was my Nan. My Nan was a Windmill Girl.

She danced in the revue and variety shows throughout the war at "The Theatre That Never Closed". You can see her here, second from right, in the photo below - with Mr Vivian Van Damm, who was later immortalised in the film Mrs Henderson Presents (played by Bob Hoskins)